Arsene Wenger was expected to purchase a defensive midfielder in the last transfer window, but he wanted to show faith in Mikel Arteta and in Mathieu Flamini, while also stating that Jack Wilshere could also be developed into a defensive midfielder. However, that move seems to not have seen the light of day, and with Arteta picking up constant injuries, Mathieu Flamini has played a major role in being the pivot in a 4-1-4-1 formation that Wenger has applied. Flamini has found it hard to cope being the only defensive lynchpin, as most of the advancing players forget their defensive duties, leaving spaces for the opposition to exploit.
Names have been bantered about for quite a long time, starting with Lars Bender last season, Cheick Tiote, whose name has been attached to Arsenal for a long time now; William Carvalho or Adrien Rabiot, whose names have been linked to Arsenal in the last transfer window; Nigel de Jong, who is one of the best options around, but who is well-settled and may not seek a move, and Geoffrey Kondogbia, who might be tempted to move from AS Monaco to Arsenal and who may be the player Wenger has looked to replace from the 2003-04 Invincibles squad, like the next Patrick Vieira, as he is well-regarded in France.
1. Cheick Tiote:
He has been consistent at Newcastle, and is one of Alan Pardew’s favourite players. The player would not mind a move to a more prestigious club such as Arsenal, but the club will not sanction a move easily. Players from Newcastle have struggled after their transfers in recent times – Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba, Andy Carroll – and Cheick Tiote may not end up being a great player at Arsenal, as he may find it difficult to fit in.
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